Federal Judge and May Day Ready secure Breeders’ Cup berths with Stoll Keenon Ogden Phoenix, Jessamine Presented by Keeneland Sales victories

Godolphin’s homebred Immersive took charge at the head of the stretch en route to a 1¼-length victory over Quickick to win the 73rd running of the $600,000 Darley Alcibiades (G1) for 2-year-old fillies and earn a fees-paid berth into the $2 million NetJets Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) to be run at Del Mar on Nov. 1.

Also securing Breeders’ Cup berths Friday were WinStar Farm and Siena Farm’s Federal Judge for the Cygames Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1) by virtue of his victory in the 172nd running of the $350,000 Stoll Keenon Ogden Phoenix (G2) and KatieRich Stables’ May Day Ready for the John Deere Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) with her victory in the 34th running of the $350,000 Jessamine (G2) Presented by Keeneland Sales for 2-year-old fillies.

In the Darley Alcibiades, Immersive completed the 1 1/16 miles on the fast main track in 1:44.64 to give trainer Brad Cox his third victory in the race and provide jockey Manny Franco with his first. Cox’s previous winners were British Idiom in 2019 and Juju’s Map in 2021.

Rich City Girl and Liam in the Dust led the field through fractions of :23.01, :46.89 and 1:11.26 with Immersive tracking in third just off the top two. Immersive began to close in on the turn, hit the front turning for home and was not threatened in the run to the finish.

Now undefeated in three starts and a two-time Grade 1 winner, Immersive is a Kentucky-bred daughter of Nyquist out of the Bernardini mare Gap Year. The victory was worth $362,700 and increased her earnings to $582,700. 

Favored in the field of seven, Immersive returned $5.34, $3.56 and $2.58. Quickick, ridden by Dylan Davis, returned $4.50 and $2.82 and finished 2 lengths in front of Quietside, who paid $2.76 to show under Luis Saez.

It was another 1¼ lengths back to Continuity, who was followed in order by Sherbini, Rich City Girl and Liam in the Dust.

Federal Judge romps in Stoll Keenon Ogden Phoenix

Federal Judge took command at the start and then hit another gear at the top of the stretch to post an emphatic 5½-length victory in the Stoll Keenon Ogden Phoenix (G2) for 3-year-olds and up

The margin of victory was the largest since Golden Gear won by 7½ lengths in 1995.

Trained by Brad Cox and ridden by Flavien Prat, Federal Judge completed the 6 furlongs in 1:08.20, the fastest clocking for the race since 2000 when Five Star Day won in 1:07 4/5.

In winning for the fourth time in six starts, Federal Judge led the field of seven through opening fractions of :21.62 and :43.97 with Comedy Town in closest pursuit.

At the head of the lane, Federal Judge began to widen his margin and coasted to victory with favored Nakatomi rallying for second.

Federal Judge is a 4-year-old Florida-bred son of Army Mule out of the Congaree mare Congarette. The victory was worth $181,350 and increased Federal Judge’s earnings to $402,960.

Sent off as the second choice, Federal Judge rewarded his backers with payoffs of $5.48, $2.90 and $2.44. Nakatomi, ridden by Tyler Gaffalione, returned $2.80 and $2.16 with Comedy Town finishing another half-length back in third under Drayden Van Dyke and paying $3.18 to show.

Here Mi Song was another 1¼ lengths back in fourth and was followed in order by My Buddy B, Manny Wah and Swirvin.

May Day Ready wins Jessamine Presented by Keeneland Sales in three-horse photo

May Day Ready split horses in midstretch and got up in the final jump to nip Totally Justified by a nose to win the Jessamine (G2) Presented by Keeneland Sales. Favored Destino d’Oro was another nose back in third.

Trained by Joe Lee and ridden by Frankie Dettori, May Day Ready completed the mile and a sixteenth over the firm turf course in 1:44.10. The victory was Lee’s first at Keeneland.

Shezafunkydrummer led the field of 11 through fractions of :23.06, :48.41 and 1:13.11 with Totally Justified in closest pursuit. At the head of the stretch, Totally Justified took over and opened a daylight margin that carried into deep stretch.

May Day Ready got clear running at the eighth pole and closed on the outside of Totally Justified while Destino d’Oro was rallying widest of all after being squeezed at the start and racing near the back of the pack until the top of the stretch.

The victory, the third in three starts for May Day Ready, was worth $200,725 and increased her earnings to $844,025. May Day Ready is a Kentucky-bred daughter of Tapit out of the More Than Ready mare Nemoralia.

May Day Ready returned $10.80, $5.56 and $2.96. Totally Justified, ridden by Manny Franco, returned $6.26 and $3.82 with Destino d’Oro returning $2.62 to show under Flavien Prat.

It was another 2½ lengths back to Mechaya, who was followed in order by Italian Soiree, Shezafunkydrummer, Sashay Away, Ballerina d’Oro, Somethinabouther, Miss Lonelle and Give Life.

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Racing continues Saturday beginning at 1 p.m. ET with an 11-race program that features five graded stakes, three of them Grade 1s and including the richest race in Keeneland history, the $1.25 million Coolmore Turf Mile (G1).